Wheel weight! Lead or not?

[Buck-N-Rut]

How can I tell if my wheel weights are lead or a different kind of metal?

[runfiverun]

side nippers, if it cut's it's lead.
after a while of that you learn visually.

[fcvan]

Wheel weights can be scored with a tool such as side cutters, zinc, not so much. Steel can be picked with a magnet. Once you figure out which is which you can get a better idea. Wheel weights have a different 'ring' to them when dropped. Having to sort wheel weights has sure become a pain. Oh for the days when they were what they were, a dependable alloy. I read somewhere that some new wheel weights are a hodge lodge of whatever they recycled and that now some are contaminated with zinc because they didn't sort. Thank goodness folks have figured out a way to move the zinc with I think copper sulfide. Not sure on this though but the are some threads regarding such things.

[Jailer]

I sit on a short stool while sorting and if I question one I give it a quick scrape across the cement floor of my garage. Steel and zinc will sound like scraping a rock and it won't damage them, lead will scrape a small bit of it away.

[H.Callahan]

side nippers, if it cut's it's lead.
after a while of that you learn visually.
+1 This is probably the quickest method.

[Gtek]

The time spent on front end is well worth it to me. Stool- you bet, old knees. Side cutters for confirmation. Fe chuck to one pile, some of the Zn's are sneaky and you need a quick squeeze on all not sure's. Keep pot around 700 as the last defense. Careful on your stick ons also. You Zinc up a batch and you will see and learn new things. Gtek

[Buck-N-Rut]

Thanks guys. I have about 5 pounds of weights. I know it's not much but I will hoard any amount I can get. I will see what I have tonight.

[Buck-N-Rut]

Correction. 15 pounds. That stuff is heavy for such a small amount.

[dilly]

Adds up faster than you think doesn't it?

[Buck-N-Rut]

Yes it does.